Outteridge, Jensen take 49er World title

Australia has another gold medal favourite for the Olympic sailing regatta, after Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen clinched the 49er World Championship in Croatia.

The win was the pair's third in four years as a team. Outteridge made history as the first sailor to win four World titles - he had won the 2008 championship with Ben Austin.

The news comes three days after fellow Australian Tom Slingsby won his fifth World title in Laser dinghy competition.

The Australian pair finished 13 points ahead of New Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, with Danish sailors Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang in third.

"It's a great feeling to win a fourth World Championship and my third with Iain," said Outteridge.

"We didn't have the best day's racing today but we were able to show that we can still win when we're not sailing at our best, we were able to tough it out and get the job done."

Outteridge and Jensen held an eight point lead over the Kiwis with two races left to decide the top 10 for the final medal race.

They came 15th and 12th but extended their lead to 17 points going into the medal race.

The Australians only had to avoid finishing last to win the title, and they crossed the line two places behind the Kiwis in eighth.

"It's a big thrill to win any World Championship but it's extra special to do it in an Olympic year," said Jensen.

"I think it means more to do it this year. At the end of the day 2012 is all about winning Olympic gold so it wouldn't have been the end of the world if we hadn't won, but it's great to show where we're at and our strength in a whole range of conditions."

West Australian sailors Luke Parkinson and Jaspar Warren finished 19th overall in the silver fleet in their first 49er World Championship together.

Parkinson and Warren finished 12th and 13th in the two races held on the final day.

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